Here at Northforker, we like to think we give you a lot of ideas and suggestions about what to do when you visit the area, or even if you live in the area and just need a little fresh perspective. But with countless wineries, restaurants and attractions, it can definitely be challenging to create a well-rounded itinerary if you only have a day or so on the weekend. While there are some tours and services that offer a limited range of activities — let’s face it, they’re mostly wine tours! — there’s a new kid on the block that strives to offer a tour that’s a little more comprehensive.
North Fork Sights, Bites & Flights, a new tour company owned by longtime North Fork residents Eric Deschamps and Maggie Loukatos, seeks to streamline a North Fork outing. The customized tours, which include transportation, meals, reservations and cool activities, are curated with visits to wineries, stores, breweries and restaurants.
In creating itineraries for Sights, Bites & Flights, Deschamps and Loukatos wanted to leverage the many connections they’ve made over the years and create a special experience for travelers curious about the area. They also made sure to create a business that wouldn’t be disruptive to the many small businesses that are part of the tour.
“The businesses welcome the private, guided, slow-tour, six-people-or-less concept,” explains Deschamps. “They don’t want to get bombarded with a party bus. They appreciate the smaller groups.”
Some of the businesses involved include Peeko Oysters, Disset Chocolate, Maroni, and the North Fork Apothecary, all of whom have been enthusiastic about the tours. Peter Stein of Peeko Oysters, for instance, has become a favorite part of the tour.
“It was the most popular thing on the tour, and there’s a reason why — it’s bottomless oysters as you get educated on how to farm and raise them,” Deschamps says. “Peter has been a super partner! He’s a great storyteller and people are mesmerized as they [enjoy] dozens of oysters during the presentation.”
Likewise, Disset Chocolate has been generous with their excellent confectioneries — “every one they make,” says Deschamps — and Stephanie Sack of North Fork Apothecary loves going into the rich history of the store’s building, a former post office where Albert Einstein is said to have mailed his letter to President Roosevelt about nuclear fission in 1938.
There’s also an element of improvisation to the tour, whether it’s to stop at a specific restaurant based on a group’s preferences, or a shopping detour.
Deschamps is currently the sole driver and tour guide and will drive up to six guests in a Chevrolet Suburban for either full- or half-day tours. He’s currently meeting with local hotels and B&Bs about potential partnerships. But for now, Deschamps believes his connections and friendships with area businesses already set North Fork Sights, Bites & Flights apart.
“It’s [our relationships] with the chefs, with the farmers, with the women-owned businesses that have helped open doors more quickly for us,” he says. “We’re really trying to target an out-of-town audience and share some of the North Fork with them.”
Currently, there are six tours from which to choose; all include multiple activities. If the full seven-hour tour is too much, there’s also a half-day option. Check out pricing (everything, as well as gratuity, is included) and availability at nofosbf.com.
